Stars guarantee high ratings. High ratings guarantee huge revenue. The people who count the NBA’s money are no fools.

Edwards is about to take up the torch from his Olympic teammates and become the next face of the league.

His spectacular dunks, his beaming smile and his opinionated interviews make Edwards worth his weight in gold. He oozes charisma, on and off the court.

The Olympic experience can do wonders for Edwards’ development into a superstar. An important part of that process is being able to compete against the best players in the league during the season. Edwards’ spectacular performance against Kevin Durant in the playoffs – talking down his basketball idol while backing away – was a defining moment in Ant’s rise.

The knowledge he gained from watching Team USA this summer may be bearing fruit in less visible ways. Edwards was surrounded by great players of his generation in Paris. He got to live, train, practice, study and learn from LeBron, Curry and Durant.

If Edwards acted like a sponge, he left France with more than just a gold medal. He was able to see first-hand how some of the NBA’s greatest talents get the job done, process the game and handle the responsibility that comes with being a world-famous athlete.